Monday, January 18, 2016

Book Spotlight & Giveaway~ The Measure of Love

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $30 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn host. The book blast is sponsored by Goddess Fish Promotions. You can find all the book blast participants HERE

Now let's check out Saundra MacKay's The Measure of Love....

GENRE: Contemporary
Romance

The Measure of Love is unique in
that it is an authentic modern-day love story that captures the mystique and
splendor of large size women of today. It will captivate the hearts of
the readers as they walks through Vanessa’s everyday life as she confronts the
realistic obstacles from being a woman of size. The story addresses size
in a kinder, gentler way about full figured women beyond the realm of society’s
idea of what is physically beautiful

Excerpt:

Good
fortune spared her from becoming further unnerved by allowing her to get to the
airport without much delay, and to find a parking spot, with a few minutes left
before his flight was to arrive. Vanessa felt as if she couldn’t make time move
fast enough. With each passing minute, she couldn’t deny her mounting eagerness
to see his handsome face come through the exit doorway. While the passengers
were disembarking, Vanessa positioned herself in a place where she could easily
see him come through the door, yet far enough away from the crowd of onlookers
waiting for the same reason. As the doors opened and each unfamiliar face
passed through the doorway, she felt as if her inflated heart was going to
burst onto the carpet. She felt sure she would stop breathing if she didn’t see
his face in the next few seconds.

Vanessa
stood very still, watching the stream of emerging passengers. And then,
suddenly, there he was, looking like the million dollars he was worth in her
shining eyes. Unbeknownst to her, Jon had been anticipating seeing her just as
much once the plane had landed, and the need had only increased as the plane, much
too slowly, had taxied up the runway. His feet had wanted to run down the long
walkway, making him impatient with the necessary procedures and the lingering
passengers who, to his increasing anxiety, were taking their time walking down
it. He didn’t know why, but he was nervous and very anxious, even though he’d
been looking forward to this day since it had been arranged.

By
the time Jon reached the exit, he was so wired it took everything he had not to
push the people ahead of him out of his way to run the extra steps. Then, at
the exact same moment, their eyes locked. Vanessa stood there, so statuesque,
and wearing the biggest smile. It took all the remaining restraint he had not
to drop his bag where he stood, run to her, and grab her up in his hungry arms
to consume every inch of her big, beautiful body. She was one fine female, and
he could see she had no idea of the enormous impression she made as she stood
looking like a vision to all who had an eye for real beauty.

Never
taking his eyes off hers, Jon walked toward her, lowered his bag, and forced
himself to slowly pull her into his impatient arms. The feel of her softness
revived the many feelings that had possessed him since he last left her, and
gave him a new wish to hold on to her for a lifetime, just as he was at that
very moment. For someone of such a large frame, she was so small in so

He
had missed her. For someone of such a large frame, she was so small in so many
ways not obvious to those who couldn’t see past the image taken in by the discriminating
eye. Jon just wanted to hold her and protect her forever from all the ugliness
around her and within her own insecure reflection. Vanessa wrapped her large
arms around his neck, nestled her face deep into his shoulder beneath his
scented square chin, and whispered, “I’ve missed you so much. Welcome, my
love.”

I was a large-sized child
shaped by the view of those expecting me to act a certain way because of my
size and their narrow views. As a “fat”
child I was treated just how they thought I would act, as if I was so sensitive
I were incapable of doing most things thin children could do. It was around the age of twelve I started to
gain weight, changing my physical image of my body. It was a slow, steady process, but the
ramifications were not.

As I grew older and the
pounds followed, the images changed dramatically and I wasn’t capable of
fighting the effects from it. As a young girl of size, trying to keep some
semblance of positive image was an uphill battle. It was the start of feeling isolated and
unsure as an introverted child growing up and into most of my teen years. I
didn’t feel I could trust anyone enough to talk to about personal issues,
especially anything to do with my weight.

As a teen and into adulthood
the meaning of unrequired love was lost to me.
As I explored the world around me, I unknowingly learned how to trust
many of the voices of the people I was blessed to have had walk through my
life. In time, it showed me my innate
trust in something bigger than society’s issues and helped me to listen to my
own voice to hear the messages I tell myself.

Now, the image of my body is
one of kindness, caring, and love. In
light of realizing its society’s image of body that is distorted and do not
accept the difference in every individual, I have come a long way to appreciate
the uniqueness of my body. Today love
means so many things to me, and is felt in defining ways that have helped shape
me into the person I am today. I believe
I have always reflexively felt a connection to my innate love for myself and on
so many amazing levels love have helped me to understand and value the real
me.

As a young adult, I started
to read every opportunity I had. Then my
love of words was found, allowing me to create a world in which I could express
myself comfortably. I now have the
pleasure of embracing the feelings of joy and excitement that come with being a
writer of truth and a romance novelist.
It’s possible because I evaluate myself and my growth with honesty in
hopes of being capable of writing true-to-life love stories. Love stories about large-size women who are
seen for more than their innate beauty and are worthy to be the heroine who
gets the man